Presenter: Xiaoguang Michelle Gao (Dr. Warren Tourtellotte Lab)

Xiaoguang Michelle Gao

Topic:

"Modulation of Low affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) expression by early growth response (Egr) transcriptional regulators"

Egr transcriptional regulators (Egr1-4) are rapidly induced by a variety of extracellular stimuli that influence cellular growth and differentiation. Egr proteins modulate gene expression by binding to response elements in target gene promoters to facilitate their transactivation. However, very few target genes have been identified to require Egr-mediated transcription in vivo. The low affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) was identified as a potential target gene regulated by Egr proteins. Both Egr1 and Egr3 were found to bind and transactivate the p75NTR promoter in vitro and in vivo, using distinct response elements on the p75NTR promoter. Accordingly, p75NTR expression was greatly diminished in muscle spindles and in peripheral nerve Schwann cells in mice lacking both Egr1 and Egr3 (Egr 1/3 DKO). That p75NTR function is compromised in Egr 1/3 DKO mice was corroborated by abnormally thin peripheral myelin, a phenotypic characteristic of mice lacking p75NTR. These results elucidate a novel mechanism whereby Egr proteins can directly modulate p75NTR function in vivo.

When:

Monday, February 5, 2007
12:00PM – 1:00PM
 

Location:

Baldwin Auditorium
Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center
303 East Superior Street, 1st floor